Uluru - Raining on the Rock

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent a week in Australia recently, one of their trips was to the centre of Australia to Uluru (or Ayers Rock as it used to be known as).

Uluru is one of the largest sandstone rock formations found in the world and is situated about 208 miles (335 kms) from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a very sacred site for the Aboriginal People of the region.

This huge monolith stands approximately 1,142 feet height (348 m) and has a total circumference of 5.8 miles (9.4kms).

Uluru is an iconic tourist destination for those who really want to experience the majestic outback and its colors and character and until recently was a popular climbing destination. Only recently has the national park been turned over to the people who have lived there for many millions of years and as a sign of respect for the sacredness of the environment, tourists are asked not to climb the rock.

When I heard that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were intending to visit Uluru I was especially excited for them because at the time, there was significant rains in the centre of Australia and one of the wonders of Uluru is to be able to witness “rain on the rock”. They’ve even written a song about it. One of Australia’s best known songwriters and singers John Williamson wrote this terrific song about the wonders of the rain on the rock.

Of course after the rains in the centre of Australia, which incidentally is a pretty rare occurrence, the surrounding dessert is awash with colour from millions and millions of wild flowers that pop their heads out for only a very small time after the rains. Soon the searing heat of the sun will burn off the flowers and it will be dry and dusty and very red until the next lot of rains, probably another 12 months away.

Because rain is a very rare occurrence, it is unusual to be able to capture the rock in all its moods through rain and drought. Photographer Peter Carroll has been able to do just that and he has had the rare privilege to see the rock in all its glory.